By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, May 4, 2023

Aryna Sabalenka almost knocked Iga Swiatek down in final month's Stuttgart closing.

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The second-ranked Sabalenka believes she has the sport to take the world No. 1 out in the event that they meet in a Madrid closing rematch.

The second-ranked Sabalenka stormed by 5 straight video games sweeping Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-1 to roll into her second Mutua Madrid Open closing within the final three years.

Australian Open champion Sabalenka will face both the top-seeded Swiatek or Twelfth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova in Saturday's closing.

If Sabalenka and Swiatek sq. off it will likely be a rematch of their fiery Stuttgart closing final month.

Swiatek unloaded a flurry of forehands combating off Sabalenka 6-3, 6-4, to efficiently defend her Stuttgart title in a closing rematch that buzzed with sensible working strikes and bubbled with unhealthy blood between tennis' two prime gamers.

A cold handshake ended a fiery closing that noticed Swiatek increase her Stuttgart file to an immaculate 8-0 turning into the primary girl since Angelique Kerber in 2016 to defend Stuttgart.

Sabalenka, who almost nailed Swiatek with a smash in Stuttgart, stated she understands how she will be able to topple the highest seed.

"It's always great battles. You always have to fight really, really hard against Iga," Sabalenka stated. "I'm ready for that.

"I'd say that earlier than like our first matches final season once I did not really feel my greatest, it was actually powerful to play in opposition to her as a result of I did not have a lot weapons. I had my character and that is it.

"Later on the season when I fixed my serve, I understand that actually I can play well against her, I can beat her."

Hugs from Papa Swiatek earlier than driving residence with one other Porsche 🫂🥲@iga_swiatek stays undefeated on the @PorscheTennis Grand Prix! 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/eDlWSRWeZD

— wta (@WTA) April 23, 2023

While Sabalenka confirmed she's keen to do no matter it takes to take down the No. 1, together with hit by her,  Swiatek confirmed she will be able to stand as much as the blows of an explosive main champion hold calm and retain her successful edge.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek has gained 5 of seven conferences vs. Sabalenka, together with successful all six units they've performed on clay courts.

Still, Sabalenka believes her capability to hurry Swiatek on the forehand facet is usually a essential weapon of their rematch.

"I mean, it's going to be really amazing if I can beat a player like Iga on clay court. Yeah, as I said, I don't have to rush things," stated Sabalenka, who carries a WTA-best 28-4 file on the season into the ultimate.  "I just have to wait for my opportunity and I just have to, yeah, take it and go for it. I think in Stuttgart I was like going crazy when I had this like slower shot or like shorter shot or like this approach shot."

The 2021 Madrid champion stated enjoying with persistence and keenness will probably be key if she's to attain her first clay-court win over Swiatek.

"I was just like going crazy. I was rushing things," Sabalenka stated of their Stuttgart assembly. "I tried to go for winners. This time I'll just play with more passion, and I'll just wait for a better shot to finish the point."

Photo credit score: Adam Pretty/Getty

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